DAVID ADAMS speaks with Jo Hood, founder of ministries mainly music and the more recently launched mainly play…
Jo Hood is the founder of mainly music and the just launched mainly play (developed with the help of Sarah Matthews). The 56-year-old, who is based in the Melbourne suburb of Bayswater, speaks about how the ministries are helping to connect churches with the communities in which they are based…
What’s mainly music all about?
“Depends on who you are. If you’re a child, mainly music is all about a fun music session where you get to muck around with all sorts of props and crazy songs, but little do you know, you’re learning the whole time. If you’re a mother, mainly music is about connecting with your child or children, even baby, during a fun music session, and growing closer in relationship with your child. If you’re a mother who doesn’t have a network of friends, it’s also a place that provides you with a break from being socially isolated. If you’re a mother who isn’t quite sure whether you’re doing a great job as a parent or not, it’s a place where you receive encouragement. If you’re a church, it’s an easy way to connect with the community through the generosity of time and energy given by volunteers.”
So it’s about actively engaging with and loving people – the outworking of the Gospel?
“Yes – that’s a great sentence.”
Where did the idea come from?
“When my daughter was about 18-months-old, she and I, along with a friend and her daughter, spent a few weeks attending a music group in Auckland, New Zealand. Then the group was going to change. Having a music background, mainly music began in our local church with some changes to what we had experienced. Like celebrating birthdays, provision of morning tea, provision of a play time – and more.”
Jo Hood, founder of mainly music, and her husband Steve. PICTURE: Supplied.
JO HOOD – IN SHORT
Some music I’m enjoying….”Predictably the newest songs just recorded by mainly music. Once I get one of them in my head, they’re like, The Song that Never Ends – except I don’t mind being unable to get them out of my head”.
A person I admire…”Well, I could say, Jesus. But I know that’s predictable too. My husband, Steve, who is going through a significant cancer journey. His maturity and understanding of who God is blows me away. We’re on the same page which helps us travel this difficult road together”.
A Bible verse that’s speaking to me…”I’m reading Acts 1-12 – Peter’s response to the rules, elders and teachers of religious law. Acts 4:20 says “We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” Recently I respectfully told someone about “everything we have seen and heard” after she talked about praying to her dead parents.”
I understand it first launched in New Zealand and then jumped the ditch to Australia?
“Not really a question! But you’re probably asking for a ‘yes’ and ‘why?’ New Zealanders cope with Australian HQs [headquarters]; Australian’s with a NZ HQ…not so much. To show the Australian church we were serious about resourcing and supporting the growth of mainly music here, we took up the visa option of ‘non-permanent residency’. And twelve-and-a-half years later, we’re still here.”
Why is music a good way of connecting with children?
“Music establishes connections in the brain, movement to music establishes connections in the brain, and participating in a fun music session is a level playing field. Everyone can become involved, no matter the age of the child or the ability of the child. And children’s music, when selected well, has the ability for parent/carer and child to learn together. There are so many spin offs.”
How effective is mainly music at connecting families in with churches?
“Depends on what a church expects. Families flock to mainly music when the sessions are enjoyable (sometimes teams get tired and families stop attending). However, if a church expects people to show up on Sunday, that’s not so effective, and there are lots of reasons for this.
“Churches aren’t always places that provide a link from community to faith. It’s often such a large jump that people just don’t get to cross. Churches aren’t always geared up on Sundays to cope with families of young children. As much as they don’t want to be known as a ‘greying and dying church’, they don’t like the noise and disruption children bring and unfortunately give subtle messages that it’s not OK for that noise to permeate through a service.
“Having a way for families to explore faith is something we encourage. A women’s Bible study. A parenting series that is followed up with Alpha. A mainly mums group that explores what ‘love languages’ are, how important they are for relationships and how God has designed us to express and receive love. A gathering at someone’s home where food is shared and a Bible story explored. These are the types of exploration environments that have a lot of merit in conjunction with mainly music and mainly play….
“If the volunteer team is expecting deep friendship [with families who attend mainly music sessions], they have to be willing to put the time and energy in. Nothing happens in life and faith without a purpose, energy, time, care and no-strings-attached friendships.”
What’s been your greatest joy in running mainly music?
“Hearing that whole churches have realised families in the community are interested in the spiritual and relational nurture mainly music provides. Hearing about families whose lives change through the input of the volunteer team. Hearing about team members who started volunteering because they were unemployed, only to find employment because they gained confidence in themselves through their serving. Hearing that churches have moved from an overhead projector to a data projector for Sundays because that’s the way the mainly music session happens (I chuckle when I hear that one!).”
And what about the greatest challenge?
“Finances. Ever since we began, I thought the ‘business’ of mainly music would create sufficient income for the ‘ministry’ of mainly music. But it’s not like that. Consequently we continue to be a bit too hand-to-mouth in the financial department. That’s something I am addressing, and would gladly chat to anyone interested in knowing more over a coffee!”
A mainly music session in Auckland, New Zealand. PICTURE: Supplied.
How has it impacted your personal faith journey?
“When I am discouraged, I call out to God for encouragement, rather than going to someone on earth to get encouragement. And every time, He answers. It sounds really ‘Christian’, but after depending on someone else for confirmation that I was doing good and it not being a healthy dependence, I switched to only listening to what God has to say in that area.”
You recently also launched mainly play – again that’s about helping families connect with the church?
“It is. It is a joy-filled play curriculum. Both mainly music and mainly play have the same five values (Honour, Connection, Creativity, Celebration, Generosity), same three session outcomes (Delight, Accept, Grow) and the same four mission focus (Bless, Belong, Believe, Become). But the content is different. There aren’t many mainly play groups yet; however, there is more and more interest from churches wanting to start one.”
How many churches are mainly music and mainly play connected with and where are they located?
“In Australia, there are over 600 churches connected with mainly music and mainly play right around the country. In New Zealand, there are over 300 churches. In the UK, there are over 65 churches. And in the rest of the world (we have 14 countries in total connected with mainly music and mainly play), there more than 30 groups.”
How can people get involved with mainly music or mainly play?
“Go and visit a local group (details are found on our website – mainlymusic.org or mainlyplay.org). Talk to the team after they’ve packed up for the morning and then email our administrator, Allison, for the welcome information – [email protected] – she will send you details of both.”
